Vaughan, Ontario-Canada is at its best when diverse, engaged and empowered youth are able to gain meaningful work and life experiences. In presenting opportunities for Canadian and international youth to travel and work, the Government of Canada is supporting meaningful opportunities for young people to experience other cultures and form lasting relationships.
Today, Francesco Sorbara, Member of Parliament for Vaughan-Woodbridge, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the coming into force of a new Canada-Italy Youth Mobility Agreement. Under this agreement, Canadian and Italian youth now have more options when applying for international work and travel experience through the International Experience Canada Program.
This new agreement allows youth, aged 18 to 35 years old, to work and travel for up to 12 months, and participate twice in the program, for a total of 24 months. As part of the expansion, 2 new streams-International Co-op and Young Professionals-will help youth gain professional work experience abroad.
Canada and Italy are long-standing youth mobility partners that support international work and travel experiences. The program also helps youth explore new cultures, languages and societies, all while developing life skills and improving their job prospects for the future.
This agreement with Italy opens up new opportunities for future work and travel and further builds on our countries' people-to-people ties while improving labour market access for Canadian and Italian youth.